Improvement in military accouterments



Q. HARKINs 2Sheets-Sheet 1. Military Acooutrements.

No. 204,322. Patented May 28, 1878 lnvni'or Mm 96mm Nv PETERS, PHOTWUTHOGRAPHER, WASMXNGTON' D C.

- 2 Sheets-Sheet 2. G. I-IARKINS. Military Aoooutrements.

No. 204,322. Patented May 28,1878.

N.PEr:Rs, PHOTO-UTHOGRAPHER, WASHINGTON- n C.

ITNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

CHARLES HARKINS, OF ATLANTA, GEORGIA, ASSIGNOR OF ONE-THIRD OF HIS RIGHT TO LORIN BLODGET, OF PHILADELPHIA, PENNSYLVANIA.

IMPROVEMENT IN MILITARY ACCOUTERMENTS.

Specification forming part of Letters Patent No. 204,322, dated May :8, 1878; application filed May 20, 1878.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, CHARLES HARKINS, of McPherson Barracks, Atlanta, Georgia, have invented a new and useful Improvement in Military Accouterments, of which the following is a specification:

The object of my invention is to provide a soldier with accouterments lighter than those usually employed, and so arranged that when applied to the body the weight is brought upon those portions best able to sustain it, leaving unconfined the arms and the muscles of the breast and back, which are brought into active play by the movements of the arms. This object I attain in the manner whichIwill now proceed to describe, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, in which Figure l is a view of a soldier equipped with my improved accouterments; Figs. 2 and 3, perspective views, from front and back, respectively, of the accouterments; and Figs. 4 and 5, detached perspective views of parts of the same.

Aisawaist-belt; B B, ammunition-pouches; D, a bag or wallet of leather, water proof cloth, or similar material; E, a blanket, and F F straps, each secured at one end to the back of one of the ammunition-pouches, passing thence one over the right and the other over the left shoulder of the wearer, thence down the back through loops at on the side of the wallet D next the body, thence under the bottom of said wallet, and up in front to buckles b, to which they are secured.

Attached to the straps F, at d, are shorter straps F, the ends of which are secured to buckles b, secured to the front of the wallet D above the buckles b. A cross-strap, G, extends from one strap F to the other, some distance above the wallet D, and this cross-strap is provided with slides e, by properly adjust ing which a loop may be formed at each end for embracing the straps F and F, so that by forcing said strap G down tightly the blanket E may be bound firmly to the top of the wallet D.

The ends of the straps F, between their points of connection to the cartridge-boxes, form loops through which passes the belt A, similar loops for the passage of the belt being formed by the straps F between the loops a, by which they are confined to the back of the wallet. Over the top of the wallet, in the direction of its length, extends a strap, f,which serves to render the wallet available as a handsatchel, when such use is desirable.

The straps F and F are of sufficient length to adapt the accouterment to either a tall or short man, so as to insure the relative disposal of parts referred to hereinafter, the straps F being especially valuable in serving to brace the upper portion of the Wallet and the roll on top of the same against the back of the wearer, so as to prevent them from sagging to the rear. Where the straps F pass over the shoulder they are widened, as at i, in order to distribute the weight evenly and prevent chafing.

It will be observed in Fig. 1 that the ammunition-pouches B B and wallet D restuponthe loins of the wearer, the straps F passing directly over the shoulders, so that the weight of the ammunition-pouches balances the weight of the wallet and blanket, thus distributing the same evenly over the body, the pressure being exerted upon the tops of the shoulders and the loins in front and rear, which parts are best calculated to sustain such weight without fatigue. The arms, moreover, and the muscles of the chest and back, on which the free and efiective action of the arms depends, are not confined by any cross-straps; in fact, the straps F are no more confining and no more difficult to adjust or remove than a pair of suspenders.

In order that a change of under-clothing and three days rations may be carried in the most convenient and portable form, I have found it advisable to make the wallet D of about the following dimensions: width, sixteen inches; thickness, five inches; height, seven inches. The interior of the wallet is divided by two longitudinal partitions into three compartments, Fig. 4, the one next the body of the wearer containing the desired change of under-clothing, the intermediate compartment the proper ration of hard bread, and the outer compartment three metallic cases, two of which are designed for the ration of meat, and the other for the ration of sugar and cofiee. The lid of one of the meat-cases I provide at one end with an eye, which, when applied to the handle of a common spoon, as shown in Fig. 5, converts said lid into a passable frying-pan. The lid of the other meat case can be used as a plate.

\Vhen full, the ammunition-pouches B contain eighty rounds of ammunition, a quantity greater than can be conveniently carried with the ordinary accouterments, but which is de manded by the increased rapidity of the fire of modern breech-loading weapons. As before remarked, the weight of the ammunition serves to balance the weight of the wallet I) and roll 1*]; and when the ammunition in one orboth of the ammunition-pouches is expended, one or both of the meat-cases may be removed from the wallet D and inserted in said ammunition-pouches. The wallet 1) may be carried without the roll E, or, if desired, the roll may be carried without the wallet, by passing the ends of the straps F under the same and securing them to hooks r on the straps F, and in some cases, such as skirmishing or raiding movements, where the soldier must move rap idly, and be as little encumbered as possible, both wallet and roll may be discarded, the ammunition-ponches alone being carried, and the straps F passed under the waist-belt prior to being secured at the ends to the hooks .r.

The above accouterments are exceedingly light and easily carried, the entire weight, withablanket, a full wallet, and eighty rounds of ammunition not exceeding twenty five pounds.

I claim as my invention 1. The combination of the ammunitionpouches B anda wallet, D, with abelt, A, and straps F F, arranged substantially as described, whereby the pouches B and Wallet D are supported upon the loins of the wearer, and the arms left free, as set forth.

2. The combination of the straps F F with the wallet D and its buckles b b.

3. The combination of the wallet D, straps F F, and strap G, as set forth.

4. The combination of the straps F with the straps F, provided with hooks x for the reception of the ends of the said straps F when the latter are not attached to the Wallet, as set forth.

In testimony whereof I have signed my name to this specification in the presence of two subscribing witnesses.

CHAS. HARKINS.

Witnesses HERMANN MOESSNER, HARRY SMITH. 

